MoS Home has placed before us a number of options: Raju Bista

DEEP GAZMER, EOI, DARJEELING, APRIL 3, 2025 : The West Bengal government failed to turn up for the second round of tripartite talks in Delhi to discuss a permanent political solution to the problems of the Darjeeling hills, resulting in a stalemate. BJP and its political allies in the hills, however, termed the meeting positive and successful.

The Centre, along with the West Bengal government, had invited Darjeeling M.P. and BJP national spokesperson Raju Bista and allies of the BJP—Gorkha National Liberation Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists, Gorkha Rastriya Nirman Morcha, and SUMETI Morcha—to discuss issues related to the Gorkhas.

"On Wednesday night, the State Chief Secretary had given his confirmation that he would attend the meeting. However, the Chief Secretary got lost somewhere along the way. This attitude of the West Bengal government vindicates allegations that it is not interested in solving the problems of the Gorkha community," the Darjeeling M.P. said after the talk, which lasted one and a half hours.

Representatives of the Tribal Department and the Registrar General of India attended the meeting, chaired by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. Bista said that unlike previous meetings, Thursday's talk had been very formal and serious.

"Today, it was more important to hear and know what the Centre had to offer us. The MoS placed before us a number of options to solve the issues of the Gorkha community. We apprised the Centre in detail about our history, identity, land, and demands. We are satisfied with the meeting and are hopeful of a positive outcome," the M.P. said.

The BJP M.P. said the two main agendas—finding a permanent political solution for the hills and granting tribal status—featured prominently in the meeting, along with the decision of the West Bengal government to allot 30 percent of tea garden land to industrialists for non-tea production activities.

"We apprised the MoS that separation from Bengal was our primary demand for a permanent political solution (PPS). Until such time, other alternatives like a Union Territory, Sixth Schedule, and the Bodoland Territorial Administration model could be considered," Bista said.

Rebel BJP Kurseong MLA B.P. Bajgain, who was not invited for the talk, said Gorkha politics was not a matter of mere excuse.

"If the Government really intends to deliver justice to the Gorkhas, then the presence of the West Bengal government is neither required nor necessary. Jharkhand was formed without the presence of the Bihar government. Today's talk was basically a political meeting," he said.

GNLF General Secretary and Darjeeling BJP MLA Neeraj Zimba said the talk was a step forward from the last tripartite meeting and that it was now time for the BJP government to deliver.

"We cannot say that the talk was fruitful or productive because there was no final outcome. Today's meeting is one step forward because the MoS placed before us options to consider. However, it is now time for the BJP to deliver on its promises," he said.

The BJP won four M.P. terms from the Darjeeling constituency from 2009 to 2024 on the promises of solving the long-pending demands of the Gorkha community.

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah is very concerned about the Gorkha community and our problems. We have been told by the MoS that the Centre is working towards finding a solution. We expect that the next round of talks will be held soon," GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said.

The tripartite talk was shifted to Thursday because the BJP had to bring the Wakf Amendment Bill in Parliament on Wednesday. After the unsuccessful 2017 statehood agitation, the BJP government held an inconclusive tripartite talk on October 12, 2021, and the next meeting in November the same year, which failed to see the light of day.